Anderson tells the story of Jo Freeman, a 20-something, who loses her marketing job in CA and begrudgingly moves home to Oregon to live with her parents. There she reconnects with an old friend, as well as a new one, and decides to tick off items from a checklist that she created in her teens while documenting it all on social media. The story is filled with both fun and poignancy.
“Anderson transcends the chick-lit trope of ancient teen rivalries by crafting strong characters, and she also does a good job with the nuances of the women’s racial and sexual identities. Scenes with arguments, such as one between Jo and Wren over Jo’s priorities, are particularly riveting for showing the truth of both sides. There’s a lot to enjoy in this thoughtful story of female friendship.”